No contradiction and no sarcasm! That I request.
That I insist upon. I am the master of Duesterwalde.

FORESTER.

And I am the forester of Duesterwalde.

[STEIN is getting more and more excited. He
shows plainly that the presence of other persons increases
his sensitiveness, and he makes an evident effort
to control his temper. The FORESTER treats
the matter lightly, as an every-day affair.
SOPHY with increasing anxiety looks from one to
the other. WILKENS does not move a muscle
of his face. MOeLLER exhibits his sympathy
by accompanying his master’s words with appropriate
gestures. The entire pantomimic by-play is very
rapid.]

STEIN.

You are my servant, and I command: The forest
shall be cleared. If not, you are no longer my
servant. The forest shall be cleared.

FORESTER.

Old hot-head!

STEIN.

Either you obey, or you are no longer forester.

FORESTER.

Stuff and nonsense!

STEIN.

And I shall put Godfrey in your place.

FORESTER.

Quite right. Congratulations.

STEIN (buttons his coat).

The forest shall be cleared.

FORESTER.

The forest shall not be cleared.

SOPHY (stepping between the two).

But—­

STEIN.

I regret this exceedingly.—­Mr. Moeller!—­I
bid everybody good-day.

[Exit.]

MOeLLER.

Bravo! At last he has spoken his mind in a manner
worthy of Stein and
Son. Yours truly.

[Follows STEIN.]

FORESTER.

I deal—­

[He looks up while shuffling the cards.]

But—­well, let him go. If he can’t
sit for an hour without exploding, the old powder-bag—­

SCENE VIII

The FORESTER remains seated imperturbably.
SOPHY stands beside his chair. WILKENS
steps up to the FORESTER.